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Conference room dedicated in honor of gunship pioneer

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Salanitri
  • Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  A conference room in building 90333 was dedicated Aug. 16, in memory of a pilot who helped pave the way for the special operations' gunship.

The conference room was dedicated in memory of Col. Charles Farr, one of the pioneers of the first gunships.

"If he had the right credentials we would honor him, and he did," said Lt. Gen. Donald Wurster, Air Force Special Operations Command commander. "It's been a privilege for us to be able to honor Colonel Farr this way."

"Col. Charles Dahlgren "Dahl" Farr was a hero of the China-Burma-India Theater in World War II," said Lt. Col. Scott Walter, project officer for the dedication.

While commanding the 433rd Troop Carrier Group in Burma, Colonel Farr reacted to the lack of fighter cover for his unarmed C-47 when enemy ground fire caused considerable casualties to his "kicker crew" who were offloading at the rear of the aircraft. He helped change the nature of cargo operations by arming the C-47 "Gooneys" with 50 caliber machine guns, which were successfully used to defend his troops by attacking the enemy during low-altitude drop missions. After the first successful airborne test, Colonel Farr expressed "We have us a Fire Bird!" This refit eventually was the birth of the designation of "gunship" for the C-47, according to his biography.

"When I first heard that my dad was getting recognized I felt pride," said Col. Warren "Rocky" Farr, Special Operations Command Central, command surgeon and son of Col. Charles Farr. "This recognition is long overdue for one of the founders of the USAF's uncongenial warfare efforts...He typified the can do attitude of today's AFSOC warriors."

During Colonel Farr's 36 year career, which included time as an enlisted Navy pilot, he earned many medals to include the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Flying Cross.